Final 2024 Draft Poll

[AHF]

It's time to give your final weigh in on what you think would be the best option for the Hawks.  (Not what you think they will do.)

[Final_quest]

OK, a bit of a cop out, but I selected almost every option on question #4.  Most of those options should be considered.  I would do different things based on what is available to us as we offer our pick and players.  Like Supes mentioned Jarrett Allen as a possible player coming to us and we'd do something different if there is a deal for BI.  I think that is the process they are going through. 

Sarr is the mystery.  Most reports and even an insider had been suggesting we won't pick him, but lately it seems there is a legit last minute push to consider him at #1.  I'm actually wondering if it's a business decision as they've gotten calls from season ticket holders who are threatening to walk away.  Tony doesn't want to risk losing the fan base.  

Regarding #5, I do think Tony is the biggest voice in the room.  At the end of the day, he has to pay for the long term strategy.  If it's clear that Trae is gonna walk unless we leverage more of our assets and budget to build a deep playoff team, Tony has to commit to a push like that.  So, the primary decision of the franchise direction comes down to Tony's willingness to sign off on it whether it's expansion or contraction.  

[Packfill]

I am still of the view I would take Sarr #1.  That said, I don't love him as a prospect (too many tweener vibes versus multi-position weapon vibes for me), but am gambling heavily on upside.  I could see a GM getting fired over this pick if it does not pan out.

I really like the UConn guys but not at #1.

My main hope for improvement in the short term is through the trade market.  I would be exploring all possibilities for moving Murray and Capela at the least, but no one is really off the table for the right deal (I would, for example, trade Trae for Booker).

Recent history tells us you need at least 2 stars to win big in the NBA, and Murray is not the right second star for Trae.  Even factoring in the #1 pick I don't think the Hawks have an internal option to fill that role, so I am open to taking risk when I trade Murray for a younger/pre-breakout guy I think could develop into this role.  I would prefer that riskier approach versus trading for mid-tier rotation/starter-level players, though I would lean into a veteran who brings the right attitude/culture reset to the locker room.

I think the Hawks need a dose of toughness - someone who can physically and mentally dominate their opponent.  Need some dawgs.

[theheroatl]

Take Clingan at 1.. I'm getting cold feet on the french guys

[JayBirdHawk]

I'm still team Sarr.

[Vol4ever]

Sarr #1

[Threezus]

Sarr all the way unless we can trade to 3 or 4 with the Spurs and get our 25 1st round pick back.  Then i prefer that option as i want a shot at that draft with all that really good talent while still staying top 5 in this one.

[JTB]

I’m all over the place.

the potential big trade we make is contingent on the best draft move we can do in my opinion.

[sturt]

If I weren't on sabbatical and just viewing this as-if from a Caribbean island with a pina colada in hand on the beach, just taking in the view, I would be so so so rattled right now... 3 dozen ways to screw this up, and seemingly no way to actually come out of it feeling like my team is on an upward trajectory... no matter what, on the other side of this, the result is a giant experiment under the guidance of a GM who we all understand is still young and learning, and who at times feels the proverbial heavy breath of the financier on the back of his neck, an owner who maintains plausible deniability while ensuring his people stay within boundaries pertinent to his financial statements.

The prayer is that Landry Addison Fields shares DNA with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a basketball prodigy that is about to be revealed to the NBA and the world... able to not only negotiate an astounding feat in terms of working with and around other GMs toward ideal player personnel outcomes, but then too, able to manage his boss, selling him on his every move every time he has to experience the "challenge" meetings... even to the point of persuading his boss that there is sufficient income to keep his spreadsheets satisfied.

Hope it works out for y'all, I really sincerely do.

[Wretch]

My board:
Sarr
Sheppard
Knecht
Risacher

I'm drafting Sarr 1st overall and not blinking:
What you're looking for in the lottery is a franchise player that can put the team on his back.  It doesn't matter what the odds are, that's the kind of player that you build a team around.  You can't win without him (and his partner).  YOU. CAN'T. Trading for this player or signing him as a free agent is as equally miraculous as is drafting him - with the key difference being YOUR FUTURE IS SITTING RIGHT THERE IN THE LOTTERY FREE OF CHARGE. Why on earth would you pass it up for "someone who can help." 

That's absolute nonsense.  The key to finding a future star isn't fit, defensive aptitude, nuance, size, maturity, attitude...it's upside.  Those other qualities are fine extra qualifiers, but you can't start prioritizing those things until you are clear of the draft's sweet spot.  The absolute worst decision we can make is to use the top pick of the draft, stay or trade, in any year, to choose someone who fits with the plan.  The second worst is leaving money on the table as we did when we left the lottery process too early. 

We have a second shot, we need to make the most of it, trade or stay...period.

Clingan
I believe he is going to be a fine NBA player.  I have zero doubts that he will be a productive starter on a good team.  I used to push back against the argument for a "modern big" until I lived through it with Capela, OO, and Collins (when his shot fell off).  I'm not interested in any big man that clogs the lane and doesn't at least appear to have shooting mechanics and instincts.  I've seen it.  Clingan isn't the pick unless we're trading down to 4 and I would sooner pick Knecht.

Risacher
I don't agree with @bleachkit very often, but he described Risacher as a tall guy that can shoot.  Dammit if that don't just say it all for me.  He looks like a standard wing prospect or maybe I'm just having PTSD from the 2019 draft where all those lottery wings turned out uninspiring.  Either way, I am admittedly putting faith in the scouts who have been watching him and have him ranked so high.  If you were to put all these players in front of me, without an outside opinion, and having never seen them before...I'm not sure I'd have Risacher in my top 3.

Honorable mentions:
The only other player that I would consider if we didn't take Sarr is Reed Sheppard.  If Sarr were off the board, I would also take Reed and not blink.  I would take him EVEN WITH TRAE ON THIS TEAM - sort it out later with a trade.  If we were still at 10 or if we added another mid-lottery pick in this draft, I would take Dalton Knecht and not blink.

[REHawksFan]

14 hours ago, theheroatl said:

Take Clingan at 1.. I'm getting cold feet on the french guys

I'm still Team Sarr but I'm a lot less adamant about it.  And I'm trending your way fast.  Can't shake this nagging feeling that Clingan ends up being the better player long term.  It's just that the Sarr upside is so intriguing.  

[swanlee]

I was big on Sarr until he refused to workout for us. I do not want him here I want our #1 pick to come without obvious red flags so I'll take Clingan 

[macdaddy]

My preference in order is Sarr, Risacher, Matas, Clingan.   

I'll admit i may be wrong about all of them. 

[sturt]

2 hours ago, Wretch said:

My board:
Sarr
Sheppard
Knecht
Risacher

I'm drafting Sarr 1st overall and not blinking:
What you're looking for in the lottery is a franchise player that can put the team on his back.  It doesn't matter what the odds are, that's the kind of player that you build a team around.  You can't win without him (and his partner).  YOU. CAN'T. Trading for this player or signing him as a free agent is as equally miraculous as is drafting him - with the key difference being YOUR FUTURE IS SITTING RIGHT THERE IN THE LOTTERY FREE OF CHARGE. Why on earth would you pass it up for "someone who can help." 

That's absolute nonsense.  The key to finding a future star isn't fit, defensive aptitude, nuance, size, maturity, attitude...it's upside.  Those other qualities are fine extra qualifiers, but you can't start prioritizing those things until you are clear of the draft's sweet spot.  The absolute worst decision we can make is to use the top pick of the draft, stay or trade, in any year, to choose someone who fits with the plan.  The second worst is leaving money on the table as we did when we left the lottery process too early. 

We have a second shot, we need to make the most of it, trade or stay...period.

Clingan
I believe he is going to be a fine NBA player.  I have zero doubts that he will be a productive starter on a good team.  I used to push back against the argument for a "modern big" until I lived through it with Capela, OO, and Collins (when his shot fell off).  I'm not interested in any big man that clogs the lane and doesn't at least appear to have shooting mechanics and instincts.  I've seen it.  Clingan isn't the pick unless we're trading down to 4 and I would sooner pick Knecht.

Risacher
I don't agree with @bleachkit very often, but he described Risacher as a tall guy that can shoot.  Dammit if that don't just say it all for me.  He looks like a standard wing prospect or maybe I'm just having PTSD from the 2019 draft where all those lottery wings turned out uninspiring.  Either way, I am admittedly putting faith in the scouts who have been watching him and have him ranked so high.  If you were to put all these players in front of me, without an outside opinion, and having never seen them before...I'm not sure I'd have Risacher in my top 3.

Honorable mentions:
The only other player that I would consider if we didn't take Sarr is Reed Sheppard.  If Sarr were off the board, I would also take Reed and not blink.  I would take him EVEN WITH TRAE ON THIS TEAM - sort it out later with a trade.  If we were still at 10 or if we added another mid-lottery pick in this draft, I would take Dalton Knecht and not blink.

Appreciate the elaboration.

[AHF]

Trend Numbers:

June 7:

Sarr 88.4% 

Risacher 4.7%

Clingan 4.7%

Edey 2.3%

June 15:

Sarr 76.7% 

Edey 9.9%

Clingan 6.7%

Knecht 3.3%

Bronny 3.3%

June 25:

Sarr 68.6% 

Clingan 25.7%

Risacher 5.7%

[AtLaS]

1 hour ago, AHF said:

Trend Numbers:

June 7:

Sarr 88.4% 

Risacher 4.7%

Clingan 4.7%

Edey 2.3%

June 15:

Sarr 76.7% 

Edey 9.9%

Clingan 6.7%

Knecht 3.3%

Bronny 3.3%

June 25:

Sarr 68.6% 

Clingan 25.7%

Risacher 5.7%

LOL, noone wants Risacher he is the overwhelming favorite for us to draft.  

[JeffS17]

Damn I'm in the minority that sees potential in Risacher lol if he pans out, hes going to have immense value as a very good shooting wing and hopefully plus defender.  I don't feel strongly about it but he was my pick if we stay at #1.

[JayBirdHawk]

18 minutes ago, JeffS17 said:

Damn I'm in the minority that sees potential in Risacher lol if he pans out, hes going to have immense value as a very good shooting wing and hopefully plus defender.  I don't feel strongly about it but he was my pick if we stay at #1.

These are my general thoughts:

On 6/20/2024 at 11:23 AM, JayBirdHawk said:

I know there are concerns about Risacher's athletic testing at the combine, buuuuuuuuuuuut.........I think he still has functional in game NBA athleticism. What I like about him is the quickness with which he makes decisions with the ball and without, in constant motion - unlike someone like Hunter who has to catch the ball and diagnose before making a move.

 

On 6/20/2024 at 12:23 PM, JayBirdHawk said:

I'd play him at SG to start, he will have a length advantage over most. A taller Bogi perhaps. His off ball movement, quick release and perimeter defense is what Trae needs next to him.

 

[Dejay]

I'll take Sarr but knowing the Hawks as long as I have, they'll take Jif...

[JeffS17]

@h4wkfan and @JTB, get in here, we are the three winners!